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Pre-2007 Owners, please declare your handicap, deaf, dumb or blind....??
I just saw the 2007 "in the flesh", so to speak. I see virtually no significant visual difference between the 2 models. MINI caught the first generation overall look to a "T". Better drivetrain, better cockpit finish and overall a tighter package. I think all the naysaysers are just praying and trying to BS everyone that their resale values don't start to plummett.
I think they are all wrong.
2007's in the showroom, my 2006 just took a multi thousand dollar hit in the wallet.
Looking at a base 2007 S as we speak...
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CDMINI; Generation 1's; PW/B S, R.I.P.; BRG/Silver S traded; Chili Red/White MC traded; 2008 DS/B Clubman S, now the "ex", I met a FORD and one thing led to another....
I'll take your bait and give my first "live" impression of the R56. I stopped by Mini of Sterling last Sunday and they had around 20 of the new breed on hand.
I do not like it, the high nose does not flow as nicely with the rest of the lines. Though it may be an optical dillusion, at some angles I swear it looks like the front lines go up rather than down towards the grill. The rear hatch bulges out which reminds me of my own beer gut (Hah) over my belt, the rear roof pillars are rather square, the headlights are huge with the funny looking turn signals inside, the s-lites have the lug cover, I prefer the lugs. The muffler on the S when viewed from a driver angle stands out way too much, almost appearing as a bad aftermarket hanging job.
On the good side, I like the interior options, the new yellow is a nice color, the lower grill and larger fogs look nice too. I would bet that the ride is better and that the new engine is smoother, there's always improvements with the next generation.
I'm sure it is a situation of "To each his/her own" Some will love it and others will not.
As for my Wensleydale, I'm not concerned with resale values, I just love her as she is.
Cheers
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I guess I should've kept my mouth shut when I started to brag about my car but now I can't back down cos I pushed the other guys too far
She makes me come alive and makes me want to drive when she says "Don't worry baby....everything will be alright"
Lots of issues with the clutch and flywheel for which MINI doesn't have a fix at the present time.
Buyer beware.
This post is SO bogus.
I would hope that anyone visiting that page would check out both of my posts there. One analyzes all posts relating to problems on the R56 prior to 2/7/07, and the other asks for input from people who got their cars after 2/1/07.
And CDMINI, it looks to me like you came in here just looking for a fight .. Looking to fan the R53 / R56 fire. I hope not too many people get sucked in by this.
Lots of issues with the clutch and flywheel for which MINI doesn't have a fix at the present time.
To be fair, sounds like a few cars left the factory as the guy torquing things down was on a tea break with his buddy from QC.
They have suggested a fix: replace the clutch and flywheel.
What they don't have is parts. As the R56 is so new, it appears MINI is dedicating parts allocation to production. Not to dealers. So replacement stuff is hard to come by right now.
__________________ Founding member of R56 Anonymous. Now repeat after me: "Hello. My name is ____. I'm a driving enthusiast... and I still like the R56!"
I went through the clutch problems with my 2001 Miata. It only took Mazda 4 years to fix the problem. Hopefully BMW won't have a chronic problem this time.
Not...deaf, dumb, or blind...I'm on-board!!!! Some of the details look quirky on their own, perhaps (or just different from R50/53) but step back and look at the whole car? Everything fits nicely. Kudos to the designers walking the fine line between creating a whole other MINI and creating one that still looks so much like the former.
Not...deaf, dumb, or blind...I'm on-board!!!! Some of the details look quirky on their own, perhaps (or just different from R50/53) but step back and look at the whole car? Everything fits nicely. Kudos to the designers walking the fine line between creating a whole other MINI and creating one that still looks so much like the former.
I drove a 2007 S on Saturday. I followed it up with a drive in an ’06 S. The new model is, without a doubt, a vast improvement over the previous model in terms of comfort and refinement. The ride in the '07 S with sport susp. and 17" wheels was much more supple and smooth than even my '03 Cooper with regular susp. and 15" wheels. It was very quiet and the interior, ohh the interior. It was just as comfy as my Volvo! The new telescoping steering wheel and slimmer center console allowed me to stretch out my legs without having to reach too far for the steering wheel. My right calf gets fatigued from leaning against the center console in my ’03, but not so with the ’07.
The new body on the ’07 does look nice, especially with the chrome package, but it’s gotten fatter (like most cars these days). It’s very noticeable in the front, where the bonnet line is taller and the nose more squared off (I presume this is due to new European pedestrian safety laws).
The end result is a car that is better in just about every way, but also lacking in some of the key areas where the ’02-’06 shines (go-kart feel, etc.). The faults of the ’02-’06 models that the new one corrects are already easily forgiven because they are so darn much fun to drive and own. The new model is still a blast, but it feels watered down. IMO, the ’02-’06 model just about hit the nail on the head as far as recreating a modern (and viable) version of the original Mini. This new model takes that idea and twists it into something the original never was – an exceedingly nice automobile. I think it will do very well.
Go ahead, flood the market with used ’02-’06 Minis and drive the used market down. The resale value is already incredibly high. (of course, I say this as someone who has no plans to hand over his keys anytime soon.)
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'03 Cooper CVT in Indi Blue/White, 45K
'95 Volvo 854 GLT 5spd, 185K
'86 Volvo 244, 200+K
Last edited by rehsper; 02-21-2007 at 11:49 AM.
Reason: grammar grammar grammar
The R50/53 had many maladies during its first 2 years in production. I just don't see a different outlook for the R56.
I can't believe your bashing the new car. What's the point?
Let the R56 owners have their day. The first gen days are over in the spotlight. Time to move on to the next generation. Out with the old ... in with the new. Time moves on.
I was informed that resalve values in local dealer's auctions here in South Florida for used MINIs remain strong in despite of the R56 debut.
Why does this sound like your desperate to make the older generation sound better than the new. Are you feeling vulnerable? The attention is moving away from the old.
Why not just let the new owners have their day in the SUN
I see virtually no significant visual difference between the 2 models.
Then you're the one who's blind.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CDMINI
I think all the naysaysers are just praying and trying to BS everyone that their resale values don't start to plummett.
Why is it so hard to believe that we just don't like the way the car looks? I don't care about resale, I have no plans to sell my '05.
I'd pay more for a '93 Saab 900 than I would for a '94, because I think that the '93 was the last attractive one that they made. For plenty of people, the '06 MINIs are going to become the most sought after model year, because they are the last year of the first generation, whose looks and character many prefer.
Why can't we just agree to disagree, or have a spirited debate, instead of accusing each other of dishonesty?
__________________ "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy." - Tom Waits
One of the MINI2.com users (Popey) had the clutch and flywheel replaced to have the noise re-appear days later.
OK, I read through todays posts. The thread has been updated since I saw it last a day or two ago.
So it seems the problem you have described is effecting one owner on MINI 2... and one more on a Scottish board reporting the same thing.
Paul's issues are the wonky boot and a stearing wheel noise (that sounds just like what was happening to my dad's BMW 5).
My bad.
__________________ Founding member of R56 Anonymous. Now repeat after me: "Hello. My name is ____. I'm a driving enthusiast... and I still like the R56!"
Why the hell are these same people who are so full of criticism for the R56 spending so much time in the 07 forum?
For crying out loud - give it a rest and get lost already.
Actually, I think Maskita said it best (in a posting elsewhere) in differentiating the old from the new. It would be good if we could all basically accept Maskita's point and and then just go on from there. Here's a copy of Maskita's post:
Test drove the new MCS today. The improvements and refinements are astounding. There is no doubt that BMW knows how to tweak a car. My 04 MCS seemed crude in comparison. However, I like crude. I can get simular performance out of my 04 MCS. It requires that you DRIVE IT----not just push down the accelerator. I like noisy, rough riding sports cars that require you become friends with the shifter, and know the art of good clutch work. Back in the 60's, I once took a road trip in the middle of an English winter in a MG-TF that had no heater. Lots of clothes and lots of Pub stops. The R56, with all of its refinements (there's that word again) has an edge up on the old Minis in most respects. Other than the looks, ( I prefer the old), the R56 seemed better in all areas except one---CHARACTER.
P.S. from the perspective of one who is coming from the outside world into the realm of the MINI, the R56, to me, has gobs and gobs of character when compared to about anything else out there. For what it's worth, a KEY reason I've selected this car, the R56 S is for its character.
I am afraid the clutch/flywheel problems are just the tip of an iceberg.
ME TOO!!! You know I'll be driving around with a critical ear for a while!
But overall, though.... one or two problems reported over a car thats been sold consistantly for the last few months. Not really worried.
Quote:
Originally Posted by C4
Yep the car indeed lack sthe Character of the old one. I believe that is one of the reasons you choose MINI over anything else, right?
This though, I strongly disagree with. Cars don't inhearently have charactor. OWNERS give thier cars charactor.
I have seen MINIs with zero charactor. They're out there. On the flip side, I'm sure there are Chevyt Citations out there with tons... it all depends on the owner.
__________________ Founding member of R56 Anonymous. Now repeat after me: "Hello. My name is ____. I'm a driving enthusiast... and I still like the R56!"
yeah, I just think the new car is ugly, the new interior design is a bit akward, and the exterior styling a bit clunky. The side repeaters are HIDEOUS.
Admitedly, everything I have listed is pure opinion, so others are entitled to disagree of course, but I'll take the styling, the character, and the sound of the R53 over the R56 anyday. Its a matter of personal preference, and my preference is for the R53.
Just like I feel some of the soul of the car died when Acura replaced the Integra with the RSX, I feel the same way abou the new Mini.
And for the record, I'm not calling the R56 owners retarded and akward looking, so I'd prefer if they wouldn't call me "deaf, dumb, or blind", this topic was clearly started to be inflamatory, I'm amazed this thread hasn't been locked with a title like that.
Pre-2007 Owners, please declare your handicap, deaf, dumb or blind....??
Thanks so much CDMINI for starting another thread in such a manner as to insure it will turn into a flame war. I greatly appreciate your direct accusation that all pre R56 owners are somehow handicapped. Just because I prefer the look of the pre-R56 Mini doesn't make me any of the things you thoughtlessly listed above
Quote:
Originally Posted by lava
Why the hell are these same people who are so full of criticism for the R56 spending so much time in the 07 forum?
For crying out loud - give it a rest and get lost already.
For crying out loud...who TH do you think you are to come in here & tell any forum members to get lost Some of us unworthy pre-R56 owners, & longtime NAM members, are lurking in here to learn the pros & cons of the new Mini & god forbid we might actually have an opinion about them ourselves.
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Tact is for people who aren't witty enough to be sarcastic...
But you are right in one aspect..... This time around, I am letting my fellow early R56 adopters do all the beta testing work for me. Back in '02 that was my full time job for 8 months, I quite frankly, I do not care to repeat the experience.
Fair enough. Early adapters do tend to get the short end of the stick.
Quote:
Originally Posted by C4
And Chows, why is it that every post of yours of late seems to be like a desperate attempt to discredit the previous car and its owners?
Care to elaborate about your little crusade?
I have no crusade whatsoever. Like I said a million times, the car is cute. Its has a lot of reliability problems and perhaps ... MINI has fixed them with a new engine. And I'm saying this for the last time ... we are still planning on a Convertable once the new JCW comes out.
I am just seeing a lot of R56 bashing and dont see any reason for it ... like I said in another thread, I believe there are several reason for this bashing and I will requote ...
The tendency for the owners of the older car to hang onto what they own and "want" to bash the next generation car is nothing new in the car world and not unique to MINI.
In some cases its monetary. Everyone can't go running out to buy the newest, biggest, brightest, fastest, etc. In other cases it is a bit of old world snobbery in that sequels are rarely as "good" as the original movie (which, of course, is not true).
To this day, Porsche purists will tell you any car that is not air-cooled is not a REAL Porsche or any Ferrari not a V12 is not a REAL Ferrari.
Its just human nature. No biggie.
and
But the human nature side, I believe, is even a deeper problem for "enthusiasts".
Right now you got many, many "modded" Gen 1 cars. People have sunk, literally, 10s of thousands of dollars ... maybe half the price of the original car ... into making it quicker.
Suddenly, the rug has been pulled out from underneath them. All the attention goes to the "current" car. As time goes by, your going to see more and more vendors paying R&D time into the 2nd gen cars and less in the 1st gen. This further alienates the first gen owners as they are no long the top dogs. Once the R56 starts to produce numbers CLEARLY better than the older generation, the current owners will feel more vulnerable ... especially when they find they can't get the mod money back out of their cars.
Eventually, in a few years, there will be more R56s on the road than first gen MINIs and this will further alienate the first gen owners as they are no longer the majority. Once the NEXT gen comes out, well it isnt going to get any better.
Some ppl have a hard time with change, but change is inevitable. Its just better to embrace the entire lineup and remember you all have the same heritage but technology will alway move foreword .
Some of the details look quirky on their own, perhaps (or just different from R50/53) but step back and look at the whole car? Everything fits nicely. Kudos to the designers walking the fine line between creating a whole other MINI and creating one that still looks so much like the former. 
. What's the point?
. Out with the old ... in with the new. Time moves on.
Some of us unworthy pre-R56 owners, & longtime NAM members, are lurking in here to learn the pros & cons of the new Mini & god forbid we might actually have an opinion about them ourselves.
